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SPOTLIGHT:
Divorces

Fewer untying the knot

First four years riskiest

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Tuesday, May 11, 2004

SPOTLIGHT: Divorces

Fewer untying the knot

Custody of dependents

For the first time in 2002, fewer than half of children of divorced parents were placed solely in the care of their mother.

Of the 35,000 dependents for whom custody was determined through divorce proceedings, sole custody of 49.5% was awarded to the wife.

Fathers won sole custody of 8.5%. Joint custody was awarded in the remainder.

Custody of dependents, the vast majority of whom are children aged 18 and under, was granted through court proceedings in about three out of every 10 divorces in both 2001 and 2002.

Fewer Canadian couples are getting divorced, and those who do are untying the knot at a much later age.

After three consecutive years of growth, the number of divorces has declined for two years in a row. In 2002, a total of 70,155 couples had a divorce finalized, down 1.3% from 2001 and 1.4% from 2000.

The number of divorces is now 11.2% below the most recent high of about 79,000 in 1992, and 27.1% below the all-time peak of about 96,000 in 1987.

A downward trend was also seen in marriages throughout the 1990s. Although the number of marriages rose in 1999 and 2000, the number of couples who got married in Canada in 2001 declined sharply.

The most recent declines in the number of divorces occurred despite increases in the population. As a result, the crude divorce rate fell 3.2% between 2000 and 2002.

The number of divorces fell in nine provinces and territories between 2000 and 2002, particularly in New Brunswick, where the decline was 14.9%, and in Saskatchewan, where it was 10.7%. Divorces were up in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and the Yukon.

Divorcing at later age

Each year for the last 17 years, men and women have been getting divorced at a later age.

Since 1986, the average age at divorce has increased by 4.1 years for men and by 4.2 years for women. In 2002, the average age at divorce was 43.1 for men and 40.5 for women.

Marriage data over the last few decades have shown increases in the average age when men and women are getting married. Men who divorced in 2002 had on average married at the age of 28.9, while women had on average married at the age of 26.3.

Between 1986 and 2002, the average age of marriage for individuals who divorced rose by 2.9 years for both men and women.

For more information, contact Patricia Tully (613-951-1759), Health Statistics Division.

Divorces
	2000	2001	2002	2000 to 2002
	number			% change
Canada	71,144	71,110	70,155	-1.4
Newfoundland and Labrador	913	755	842	-7.8
Prince Edward Island	272	246	258	-5.1
Nova Scotia	2,054	1,945	1,990	-3.1
New Brunswick	1,717	1,570	1,461	-14.9
Quebec	17,054	17,094	16,499	-3.3
Ontario	26,148	26,516	26,170	0.1
Manitoba	2,430	2,480	2,396	-1.4
Saskatchewan	2,194	1,955	1,959	-10.7
Alberta	8,176	8,252	8,291	1.4
British Columbia	10,017	10,115	10,125	1.1
Yukon	68	91	90	32.4
Northwest Territories	94	83	68	-27.7
Nunavut	7	8	6	-14.3

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See also
First few years riskiest THE DAILY – Divorces

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Date modified: 2004-05-11	Important Notices